Gear-cutting machine.



PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

E. J. FLATHEB, GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1904.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I l l lll r-ll -lllll lll PATENTED JULY 10, 17906.

E. J. PLATHER. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1904.

e SHEETS-SHEETS.

IIIIII ILI rllllllllllllll il lll i I l I H H W e 1/: W MQ 8 PATENTEDJULY 10, 1906.

E. J. PLATHER.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LIT T GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1a, 1904.

PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

B. J. FLATH'ER. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1004.

orrzgw 6 0 a H M1 H 0/ m m ZNI/ a n M. w aw 2 w m w w 2 3 a v w #3 No.825,311. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. E. J. PLATHER. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1904.

PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.

B. J. PLATHBR. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1904.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

agn

III/I114 l NA q PATENTED JULY 10, 1906.-

E. J. FLATHER. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION, FILED JUNEI Q n w 4%i2 G M w k W V .1 rm. 4 m W No. 825,311. 7; PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. E.J. FLATHER. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1904.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9i UNITED s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

GEAR-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Application filed June 18,1904. Serial No. 213,070.

7 Cutting Machines, of which the following is a explained. Fig.represents a perspective specification.

This invention relates to gear-cuttin machines m which agear-hlan isrotate step by step and looked after each step in position to be actedon by arotary cutter or hob which moves forward and back across the perihery of the blank while the latter is locked.

The invention consists in certain improve ments, hereinafter describedand claimed in machines of this class, relating to the means foradvancing and retracting the-cutter-carriage and giving the latter arelatively slow forward movement and a quicker backward. movement, tothe indexing mechanism for rotating and locking the gear-blank, and tovarious details of mechanism, all having in view the production of asimple, efii cient, and accurately-operating gear-cutting machine.

Of the drawings accompanying this speci fication and forming a partthereof, Figure 1 represents a top plan view'of a machine embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 represents a front end elevation of the same. Fig.

3 represents a side elevation of the machine looking from'the left ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation and partial section lookingfrom the left of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 re resents a perspective view of aportion of t e machine looking from the right of Fig. 2.

Fig.6 represents a vertical transverse section on line 6 6 of Fig-1.Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of the operating mechanism lookingfrom the right in Fig. 2, parts being removed for clearness. Fig. 8 reresents a top plan view of the driving an indexing mechanism, thesupporting-frame being .shown in section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig-9represents a side elevation of Fig. 8, the driving-pulley and itssupport being removed. Fig. 10 represents a sectional view on line 10 10of Fig. 9, showing the indexing tripping mechanism. Fig. 11 re resents asection on line 11 11 of Fig. 7. igs. 12, 13, 14, and 14 re resent viewsof the index-controlling cam, s owing different positions hereinafterview of a part of the indexing mechanism hereinafter explained. Fig. 16represents a section on line 16 16 of Fig. 9. Fig. 17 represents asection on line 17 17 of Fig. 7. Fig.

18 represents a section on line 18 18 of Fig. 7. Fig. 19 represents asideelevation of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18. 'Fig. 20represents a section on line 20 20 of Fig. 18. Fig. 21 represents a sideelevation of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 22 representsa section on. line 22 22 of Fig. 18. Fig. 23 represents a section online 23 23 of Fig. 18. Fig. 24 represents a section on line 24 24 ofFig. 18. Fig. 25 represents a section on line 25 25 of Fig. 19. Fig. 26represents a horizontal sectional plan of the mechanism employed to feedthe cutter-carriage to and from the work, the casing and hand-wheelbeing shown in section taken on the line 26 26 of Fig. 7. Fig. 27represents a section on line 27 27 of Fig. 1. Fig. 28 represents ahorizontal section on the same line as Fig. 26, showing the constructionand relation of the operating parts, said parts being in a differentposition from those in Fig. 27. Fig. 28 represents'a View of the partsin a different position. Fig. 29 represents a section on line 29 29 ofFig. 26. Fig. 30 represents a view ofthe mechanism employed incontrolling the cutter-carriage-operating devices. Figs. 31 and 32 reresent perspective views of these parts, whic will be ex lainedhereinafter. Figs. '33, 34, 35, 36, an 37 are detail views of thereversing-clutch employed to reverse the carriage-feed screw. Fig. 38 isa horizontal section on the line 38 38 of Fig. 4, showing the meansemployed for securing the boxes in which the index-arbor is mounted tothe frame. Fig. 39 is a section on line 39 39 of Fig. 88, showing themanner in which the index-wheel is operated. Fig.

how the worm which drives the index-wheel may be separated therefrom.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

Upon the bed of the machine is mounted a reciprocating carriage 51,supporting the bearings in which the cutter-shaft 52 is journaled. Tothe cutter-shaft is affixed the toothed cutter or hob 53, which isformed to cut gear-teeth in a gear-blank 54, the cutter being rotated bymechanism hereinafter described and receiving from the carriage areciprocating movement at right an les to its axis. The gear-blank issupporte by a rotary shaft 55, which is rotated step byste by a suitableindexing mechanism hereina'- ter described. The mechanism forreciprocating the carriage 51 is organized to give the 40 is a sectionon line 40 40 of Fig. 4, showing roo ' cutter a relatively slow forwardmovement and ainore rapid backward movement, the mechanism for impartingthese movements being as follows: 56 represents a feed-shaft having ascrew-threaded portion engaged with an internally threaded ear 57, '(seedotted lines in Fig. 1,) affixed to the carriage 51. The outer portionof said shaft is ournaled in bearings within a fixed casing 58. On thefeed -shaft within said casing are loosely mounted a carriage-feedingworm-wheel 59 and a carriage-retracting gear 60, these being separatedfrom each other by a space occupied by asliding clutch member 61 whichias a sliding and a rotative' engagement with the feed-shaft 56 and isprovided with clutchteeth 62, Fig. 32, formed to engage complementalclutch-teeth on one side of the wormwheel 59. The sliding clutchmember'61is alternately moved into and out of enga ement with theworm-wheel 59 by an oscil atory shippin -lever 63, which is pivoted at64 and is forked to engage a peripheral groove in the sliding clutchmember 61. The wormwheel 59 and the retracting-gear are continuouslyrotated by connections hereinafter described with the driving-shaft ofthe machine, the worm-wheel being rotatedat a relatively slow rate andthe retracting-gear more rapidly. When the sliding clutch member 61 isengaged with the worm-wheel, the slow'rotation of the latter is impartedto the feed-shaft 56 in the direction required to move the carriage andcutter forward and cause the cutter to act on the blank. When thesliding clutch'm'ernber is moved toward the retracting-. ear .60, itco6perates with an expansible c utch ring or -member 65, hereinafterdescribed,within said retracting-- gear in imparting to the feed-shaftthe more rapid rotation of the retracting-gear, the lat ter rotating thefeed-shaft backwardly. and causing the return movement of the "carriageand cutter. Y I

j The main driving-shaft 66 of the machine is journaled in bearings atone side of the bed andis providedw'ith a'pulley 67. Th carriae-operatin mechanism is driven by .said s aft, and t e part of saidmechan- 5 ism that operates the worm-wheel 59 includes a shaft 68,extending lengthwise of the bed and having a bevel-gear 69, meshing witha bevel-gear 70, affixed to the driving-shaft scene a bevel-gear 71,mesh,- ing with a bevel -gear 72, afiixed to a shaft 73, extendingcrosswise of the bed. To the shaft 73 is affixed a gear 74, meshing withan intermediate gear 75, affixed to an intermediate shaft 76, to whichis affixed a ear 77 meshing with a gear 78, affixed to a s aft 79,extending crosswise of the bed. To the lastmentioned shaft 79 is affixeda worm 80,'Fi'g.

29, meshing with the clutch-carrying worm-' wheel 59. The part of thecarriage-operating mechanism that operates the carriageretracting gear60 includes a gear 81 Fig. 27, affixed to the shaft 68, and anintermediate gear 82, connecting the gear 81 with the said retractinggear 60.

The said retracting.- 7 gear 60 has a recess in one side, the -marg1n.v

83, Figs. 35 and 36, of which constitutes a the retracting-gear 60, thefinger 86 swings the arm 85 outwardly and causes the squared shaft 84 toturn slightly and separate the ends of the split ring 65, thus expandingsaid ring and forcing it into frictional contact with the margin 83 ofthe recess in the retracting-gear. The said ring is provided with arecess 87, the ends of which constitute shoulderswhich engage ashouldered collar- 88, Figs. 35 and 36, afiixed to the shaft 56,

Said ring is Within said recess while the cutter-carriage is advancing,it being then out of engagement withthe interior face of said gear. Thering 65 is therefore rotated in the retracting-gear by the shaft 56 andwhen expanded into contact with the margin 83 of the recess of said gearthe'latter causes the rotation of the screw 56 to return ,thecutter-carriage. clutch-ring 65' receives the beveled finger 86 Therecess 87 of the .on-the sliding clutch memberj 61 .When the 1 dfittfil'is moved toward the retracting ear. 60.

The forked shipping-lever 63, whic operates the sliding clutch member61,"is pivoted at 64 to a fixed support and has anarm 89,

Figs. 26 and 30, on which are formed the teeth of'a ear-segment, meshingwith the teeth of 'a li e.segment,formed-on one arm 90 of a-lever 91,which iS'PiVOtGd at 92. The

other arm of the leyerQ-l is pivoted at 93 .to a .i

rod 94, which slides in fixed guides 95, .Fi 7', lengthwise of the bedand .is reciprocateg by the cutter-carria' e 51 to oscillate the ship'-ping-lever 63 an cause the described movements of the sliding. clutchmember 61. The

rod 94 islprovided with collars 96 96, between which plays a stud 97,affixed.to the cuttercarriage 51. 'When the carriage has moved,

the cutter forward across the gearblank, thestud97 strikes one of thecollars 96 and moves the rod 94 in the direction required to move theclutch member 61 through the described connections, out of engagementwith the worm-wheel 59, and into'engagement with the arm85, whichexpandsthe clutch-ring 65 in the retracting-'gearQfiO. The move.- mentof the carriage 18 thus reversed, and the carriage is retracted with aquick movement To one section is afiixed by a pin 100 a sleeve 101,havin an internal shoulder 102, engaging a shoul er 103 formed on theother section of the rod. The shouldered section ternal shoulder of thesleeve 101 and the end of the other section 'sufiiciently to permit asufficient movement of the carriage-to permit the operation of theindexing mechanism before the cutting operation is begun. Thus after thecutter has been advanced across the work, cuttin a tooth, stud 97engages the right-hand co lar 96 and draws out the members of thetelescopic rod 94 to their fullest extent, bringing shoulders 102 103into contact and shifting the shipper-lever lever 63 so as to set inoperation the retractinggear, and the cutter-carriage is carried backinto position for beginning a new cut on the blank; but when the cutterhas been drawn wholly out of the latest-made cut stud 97 enga es theleft-hand collar 96 and moves the rig t-hand section of rod 94 a certaindistance to the left before the left-hand section of said rod is movedto actuate the shi per, and during this preliminary motion 0 theright-hand section of the rod a trip member 112, carried byit, enga es aportion of the indexing mechanism, ereinafter fully described, and tripsthelatter, allowing said mechanism to be operated so as to rotate theblank'into position to receive another cut.'

The carriage meanwhile continues its rearward movement until the ends ofthe rodsections come into contact, whereupon the shipper is actuatedto.throw gear 60 out of and worm-wheel 59 into connection withfeed-shaft 56, and the carriage is again driven forward. It will be seenthat the rod 94 constructed as described permits a certain amount oflost motion to take place after the rod is engaged by stud 97 before theshipping mechanism is actuated,whichis' sufficient topermit completeindexing'of the blank before the next cut is commenced, thereby insuringabsolutely against anyda-nger ofthe out being prematurely commenced.

With the types of machines now in use it sometimes happens that a cut iscommenced before the blank has been fed throu' h the distance betweenthe teeth a'nd-w efthe blank is still turning, thereb spoilingthe. gearwhich is being made, an such an acoiw dent is liable to occur at anytime; but with the present machine this kind of accident 1s impossible,as the lost motionautomatically causes the blank to be completelyindexed in all cases before the cut is begun.

The rod 94 is yieldinglyarrested' at each end of its movement b aV-shaped latch 104. Figs. 26, 28, 28, an with a V-shaped projection 105on the lever The latch 104 is fitted to slide in a fixed socket 106 andisyieldin ly projected therefrom by a s ring 107, sliding clutc 61 isengaged with the wormwheel 59, the said latch and projection are engagId, as shown in Fig. 28, and when the clutc 'is engaged with the'armwhich expands the clutch-ring in the retractingear 60 the latch andprojection are en age as shown in Fi 28. The sliding cutch 61 may beheld in an inoperative'or intermediate position by a lever 108, Figs. 30and 31, which is pivoted at 109 to a fixed support 32, which cooperatesig. 28. When the and has an arm containing a V-shaped notch 110, adaptedto engage a studlll on the lever 91. When the lever is in the ositionshown in Fig. 30, the sides of the sa1d notch enga e the stud 1 11 andlock the lever 91 and the s 'pping-lever 63 ,with the slidin clutch inits inoperative position. When t e lever 108 is in the position shown inFig. 28, it is out of engagement with the stud 1 11, but the stud isstill between the sides of the notch, and as these sides are outwardlyinclined there is enou h latitude of movement between them allowed thestud to permit the shipper to move far enough either way to connecteither clutch with its respective driver. Moving the lever from itsinoperative position shown in Fig. 28 to the position of Fig. 30 causesone of the sides of the notch to engage the stud 11 land move it, andthereby the shipper and clutch, into intermediate position When thesliding clutch is held-in its intermediate position by the lever 91, thelatch 104 and projection are relatively positioned as shown in Figs. 26and 32. The

aring sides of the V-shaped notch act as camsurfaces, which when thelever is moved to bring the arm having the notch toward the stud areadapted to engage the stud in what- 'ever position it may occupy andguide'it into the notch as the lever continues its moveafter described,above the bed and rotatedstep by step to present different-parts of theby a spring-pawl 112, Figs. 7, 10, and 16,

carried by the clutch operating 'rod 94.

periphery of the blank to the cutter by an indexing mechanism'operatedstep by step resents a worm-geared index-wheel affixed,

as hereinafter described,a to the driving-.-

spindleof the blank-carrying shaft. With said wheel meshes a worm 114,Fig. 4, engaged with a vertical shaft'115, 'journaled -in bearings-in-ahinged arm 116, which is adapted to swing, as hereinafter described, topermit the separation ofthe worm from the index-wheel. The shaft 115 hasa' gear 117, meshing with a gear 1 18, Fig. 39, having a rotativeengagementwith avertical shaft 119 ,journaled in fixed bearings, thesaidgear 118. havingalsofa sliding engagement with its shaft bynieans of alongitudinal groove in the shaft and a key in the hub of the gear topermit the hereinafter-described vertical adjustment of .theblank-carrying shaft. The arm 116 ishinged on the shaft 119, as shown inFigs. 38 ,and 39, and is inelosed in a fixed casing'216, supported byand exten ing laterally from the bearing in which the lankholding shaft55 is mounted and formed to permit the arm to swing laterally. The armhas a handle 217 projecting fromthe casing, whereby it may be moved. Ascrew 218 looks the arm to the easing.

The gear 117 is provided with a clutch member 317, having radialclutch-teeth meshing with like teeth on a complemental clutch member318, which is a collar splined upon the shaft 115 and adapted to rotatetherewith. The clutch members are recessed to receive a spring 319, Fig.40, sur-' rounding the shaft 115. The upper end of the latter isscrew-threaded and provided with a vnut 320, which ordinarily isadjusted'to hold the member 318 against the resistance of the spring inengagement with the member 317, so that the shaft 115 will be rotatedthrough the gears 118 and 117. When the nut is loosened, the clutchmembers are separated,

V as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 40, thus permitting the adjustment ofthe index-wheel .113 by hand independently, the gear-117 being loose onthe shaft 11.5 and the clutch member 318 splined on said shaft, asalready stated.

To the lower end of the vertical shaft 119 is affixed a bevel-gear 120,Figs. 3 and 4, meshing with a bevel-gear 121, affixed to one end of ahorizontal shaft 122, journaled in fixed bearings and extendingcrosswise of the bed. To the opposite end of the horizontal shaft 122 isaffixed a gear 123, which constitutes one member of a series ofchangegears and is connected by intermediate members of said series withanother member 124, Figs. 1 and 3, aflixed to one end of anotherhorizontal shaft 125, extending across member 129.

the bed. To the opposite end of the shaft 125 is affixed a gear 126,meshing with a clutch-gear 1-27, Fig-'1, which is rotatable and movablesidewise on a fixed tubular stud 128, Fig. 18, andis 'provided with aclutch 130 represents a. shaft which'is journaled in the tubular stud128 andin a bearing in a fixed arm 131 and is movable endwise andengaged with the gear 127 by a pin 132, so that the gear. 127 is movedsidewise by endwise movements of the shaft 130, effected as hereinafterdescribed. 7

133 represents a clutch gear ournaled loosely on the shaft 130 andhaving a toothed clutch member 134. formed" to engage the clutch member129 on the movable gear 127.

- 135 represents a gear affixed to a sleeve 136, Fig. 21, which isjournaled in a bushing 137, Fig. 18, and has an enlargement, Fig. 21,which engages shoulders in the bushing 137, as shown in Fig. 18, saidshoulders pre venting the sleeve 136 and gear 135 from movingendwise'on'the shaft 130, the latter,

with its stud 143, having an endwise movement in said sleeve and gear.

The clutch-gear 133 is connected with the driving-shaft 66, andtherefore constantly rotated by means of a gear 138, Figs. 17, journaledon a fixed stud 139, and a gear 140, affixed to the gear 1138 andmeshing with a gear 141 on the driving* shaft 66. The sleeve 136 isprovided with oblique slots'142, Figs. 17 and 21, intowhich projectstuds 143 143, which are the end portions of a pin passed through theendwise-movable shaft; 130. 'The gear 135 meshes with a gear-segment144, formed onan' arm 145, affixed to ahub 146, which is adapted tooscillate on the fixed stud 147. To the hub 146 is affixed an arm 148,having agear-segment 149 and an arm 150, the latter having a stop-fingeror detent 151, Figs. 12, 13', 14, and 15, w jects into a cam-groove 152in a gear 153,

meshing with the movable gear 127 on the shaft 130.

The gearsegment 149 meshes with a gear-segment 154, formed on a hub 155,which is mounted to oscillate on the driving-shaft 66. Said hub has anarm or striker 156,-which projects into the path of the pawl 112 on therod 94. Said pawl is .pivoted to a holder 157, aflixed to the rod 94,and its acting end is yieldingly held by a spring, Fig. 16, inpositionto engage the striker 156 when the rod 94' is moving backwardly from theposition shown in Fig.16. The motion thus imparted to the striker 156and to the gear-segment 154 affixed thereto causes a partial rotation ofthe sleeve gear 135 through the described connections in the directionrequired to cause the oblique slots 142 to cooperate with the studs 143in the longitudinally-movable clutch-shaft 130 in moving said shaftendwise in the direction required to connect the clutch-gear 127, e11-ch progaged therewith, with the clutch member 134 on theconstantly-driven loose gear 133. The indexing mechanism is thus set inmotion and rotates the gear-blank forward. This forward rotation isstopped at the desired predetermined point by an automatic stopmechanism WhlCll comprises the gear 153, with its cam-groove 152-and thedetent-arm 151, projecting into said cam-groove. The

vmajor portion of the cam-groove 152 is concentric with the axis of thegear 153. The inner wall of the groove is cut away at 158 to widen thegroove and afford room for the movement of the detent 151 toward andfrom the axis of. the gear 153. The said innor wall is provided with'ashoulder 159,

formed to abut against the detent, as shown shoulder 159 (shown in Fig.14) to a position in said path, as shown in Figs. 12 and 14 The indexingmechanism is looked as above described while the cutter-carriage ismoving forward and the cutter is acting on the blank. The forwardmovement of the carriage causes the rod 94 to move to the position shownin Fig. 16, the sprin -pawl 112 on said rod snapping over the strier-arm 156 and being thus prepared to movesaid arm during the backwardmovement of the carriage and rod, When the pawl 112 encounters thestrikerarm 156, it swings the latter in the direction required to removethe detent 151 from engagement with the shoulder 159 of the stop-' movedin the direction required to .cause the engagement of the clutch-gear127 with the driving clutch-gear 133, as described, so that the nowunlocked indexing mechanism is operated until the eccentric portion 160of the camroove in the locking-gear 153 reaches the etent 151, as shownin Fig. 14. The outer wall of said eccentric portion then acts to swingthe detent inwardly, thus imparting lateral motion to the slidingclutch-gear 127 through the describedconnections in the directionrequired to disengage it from the driving clutch-gear133. Just as thisdisengagement is effected the shoulder 159 reaches the detent 151, andthe locking-gear 153 and indexing mechanism are locked against furtherforward movement, the striker-arm 156 being at the same time restored toposition to be again engagedrby the pawl 112, as shown in Fig. 16,during the next backward movement of the carriage. The detent 151 andthe clutch-operating arm 145 may be moved by hand, if desired, and topermit this a handlever 161, Figs. 15 and 16, is affixed to the hub 146.To prevent the possibility of the backward rotation of the locking-gear153, I provide the latter with a spring-pressed latch 162, Fig. 14,formed and arran ed to spring outwardly into engagement wit the detent151, said'latch yielding when the detent is in the eccentric portion 160of the cam-groove. The longitudinally-movable clutch-shaft 130 ispreferably made in two sections, as indicated in Figs. 18 and 21, onehaving a male coupling member 163 and the other a female or socketcoupling member 164, whereby the sections are detachably connected andcaused to move endwise in unison. The enlarged portion of the sleeve136, having the oblique clutch-operating slots 142, is journaled in afixed bushing 137, Fig. 18, and is prevented from moving endwise byinternal shoulders on said bushing.

The gear-blank-supporting shaft'55 is engaged at one end with thetubular drivingspindle 165, Fi 38, to which the indexwheel 113 is a'xed. Said spindle is journaled in a verticall -adjustable bearing 166,which is fitted to side on vertical guides or gibs 167 167 168 168,Fig.38, formed on the sides of an opening in a vertical standard 169 atone end of the bed 50. The inner surfaces of the guides, which form themain guidingbearings for the spindle-holder 166, are flat and arelocated in vertical planes parallel. to the axis of the driving-spindle.The outer sides of the guides are formed with beveled surfaces, withwhich shoulders on the bearing coact. The bearing 166 has fixed beveledshoulders 170 170, engaging the: outer beveled surfaces of the guides atone side of said standard, and detachable beveled shoulders 171 171,engaging the guides at the opposite side of the standard and formed on acollar 172, which is detachably mounted on a boss 173 on the bearing166. A nut 174, engaged with a screw-thread on said boss 173, whenturned inwardly, acts to cause the shoulders 170 171 to force the guides167 168 toward each other to bind against opposite sides of the bearing,and this support the bearing 166 at any desired height, according to thediameter of the blank. When the nut 174 is loosened, the. shoulders 170171' release their clamping hold on the guides 167 168, and the bearingmay be freely adjusted vertically by means of a vertical screw 175, Fi3, engaging 9. lug 176, aflixed to the bearing 166. Said screw has abevel-gear 177, meshing with a bevel-gear 178 on a shaft 179, having atits outer end a hand-wheel 180. The clamping-nut 174 has a handle 181,by which it may be turned to secure and release the bearing.

The tubular spindle 165 is provided at one end with a taperedenlargement 182 of its IIO bore, which receives a tapered portion 183 oftapered portion 183 of the shaft 55, and when rotated by means of awrench applied to a ders 200 and 201 at opposite sids of the cutshaft.

- head 185 on its outer end causes a firm bear- '1ng of the taperedportion 183 of the shaft bearing 166 by means of a nut 190 enga in athreaded portion of the spindle and abut ting against one end of thebearing 166. A

lock-nut 290 confines the nut 190. The index-wheel 113 has aninternally-tapered hub which bears on a tapered'portion 191 of theperiphery of the spindlenear the outer end of the latter. The said hubis held in close frictional engagement with the spindle by a nut 192,engaged with the spindle and bearing against one end of the hub,- saidnut having an inwardly-projecting flange 193, which engages a shoulder194 on the'hea'd of the adjusting-rod 185 and prevents outward movementof said rod.

The end of the blank-holding shaft 55 oppositetha-t engaged with thespindle 165 is reduced and journaled in a bearing 195, formed on a slide196, which is clamped to and vertically adjustable on a standard 197 atone side of the bed 5O. adjustable horizontally lengthwise of the bed bymeans of horizontal undercut guideways 198, Fig. 3 on the side ofthebed, said ways receiving and permitting the horizontal adjustment of theheads of bolts 199-, engaged Said standard is with the standard 197.Whenthe nuts of said bolts are loosened, the standard may be i moved tovary its distance from thespindlebearing. The shaft 52, on which thecutter.

or hub 53 is mounted, is provided with shoulter, the shoulder 200 beingpreferablyintegral with the shaft,. while the shoulder 201 is formed ona sleeve 202, keyed to the shaft and removably secured thereto by a nut203.

Between the cutter and the shoulders 200 201 are interposed collars 204,which,,'fwith the from the shaft, the cutter being keyed to the Thecutter-shaft has a ,tapered portion205,which is fitted inacorrespondinglytapered portion of the bore of-a'tubul arspindie 2.06,which is keyed to .asleeve 260, to which the worm-gear 207',which'rotates the spindle and cuttershaft, is keyed, said worm gearbeing rotatedby aworm 207, which has a sliding and, rotative engagementwith a shaft 208. To the shaft 208 is aflixed a-gear 209, Fi 2, meshingwith a gear 210, afiixed cutter and the sleeve 202, are removable .tothes aft 68. An adjusting-ro'd 21 1, liav ing' a screw-thread engagementwith the cut ter-shaft 52 and a wrench-engaging head 212, bearing on theouter end of the spindle 206, draws the tapered exterior of thecutter-shaft firmly against the tapered interior of the spindle, saidhead being engaged by an internally-flanged nut 213, secured uponthespindle, .as shown in Fig. 6.

Theospindle is jour'naled in a bearing 214, a I

which is longitudinally adjustable in a housing affixed to the carriage.Said hearing has an exterhally-screw-threaded portion wlth which isengaged an adjusting-nut215, lo-

cated in a recess 216 in the housin and prevented from lateral movementby t e sides of, saidrecess, so that its rotation adjusts. thecutter-shaft and spindle endwise. The sleeve 260 is movable endwise.with the spindle, so. 7

that the rotative connection between/the spindle and the gear 207 is notaffected by the endwise adjustment of the spindle;.y;.,The bearing 214has an internally-.taperedpon tion 217'anda beveled shoulder2 18,1"andthe spindle206 has a corresponding externally tapered portion andbeveled shoulder. A nut 2,19, engaged with a threaded end. portion ofthebearing and having an inwardly-projectingflange, bears on a washerinterposed between its flange and a shoulder 220 on the spindle, saidnut when turned inwardly holds ing the tapered external surfaces of thespindle in contact with the tapered internal surfaces of the bearing. Alock-nut 221 holds the nut 219 against accidental rotation;

I It will be seen that the construction'of the cutter-shaft and itsdriving-spindle is" rac- IOO tically the same as that of the blank-hoding shaftand its driving-spindle, provision being made in each formaintaining an effective frictional'enga'gement between the shaft. andthe tubular spindle and reventing loose endwise movement of the s aft.

It is necessaryunder certain conditions to operate the feed-screw 56 byhand, and to .this end a hand- Wheel 222, Fig. 28,.is employed. So faras I am aware it is the usual practice. to secure the hand-wheelpositively to the feed-screw spindle, so'that when the direction ofrotation is suddenly changed the inertia of the hand-wheel has tobeovercome. in the reverse. rapid movement of the screw in withdrawingtheivcarriage; The momentum of the'wheel when changing-to forward feedin'movement of the carriage is a-cause of sud enshock to the operatingparts and is therefore detrimental.

To overcome thisobjection, I rovide means for connecting. the

hand-whee. 222 frictionally with the feed. screw shaft 56, as shown inFig. 29, the hub of the hand-wheel bein provided with a tapered socket223, whic frictionally engages a tapered bushing 224, keyed to thespindle. The hand-wheel. is normally loose upon the bushing 224, ,sothat when the operator ex- .erts' pressure upon the hand-wheel its hubmechanism, with the indexing mechanism,

. and with the carriage, said r'od being composed of sections, one ofwhich has a lost-motion connection with the other and is arranged to setin operation the indexing mechanism, while-the other is arranged toactuate the shipping mechanism, the first said rod-, section beingactuated by the carriage.-

2-. A gear-cutting machine comprising a cutter-carriage, a feed-shaftengaged therewith, driving mechanism including inde pendent drivingmembers and clutch mechanism cooperating alternately therewith, shipping mechanism engaged with a movablepart of said clutch mechanism, arod composed of sections, one of'which is arranged for engagement andoperation by the carriage and has a limited endwise movementindependently of the other to permit a limited amount of motion of saidsection and the carriage before the shipping mechanism is, operated, andan indexing mechanism controlled by said, section, the

other section being operated by said beforementioned section andconnected to operate the shipping mechanism. I

' 3. Agear-cutting machine comprising a cutter-carriage, a feed-shaftengaged therewith, inde endent driving members for ro-' tating saifeed-shaft, means for engaging the'feed-shaft with the driving membersalternately, the direction of rotation of the shaft being reversed byeach driving member to give the carrriage a slow forward movement and. arelatively quick return, a hand-wheel normally loose on the i ed-shaft,and conical cooperating surfaces formed on the shaft and handfwheelrespectively, adapted to be brought into frictional engagement bypressure on the hand-wheel and to be disengaged by the momentum of thewheel at the beginning of the rotatory motion of said feed-shaft. 4. Aear-cutting machine comprising a blank-ho ding shaft, an-indexingmechanismada ted to communicate motionto the.blankho] ing shaft, acutter-carriage,'a feed-shaft engaged therewith, driving mechanism forsaid shaft including independent driving members and clutch mechanismcooperating alternately therewith,- shipping mechanism engaged with amovable part of said clutch mechanism, and a rod composed of twosectionsjoined together by a lost-motion connection permitting one .to havea'limited endwise motion independently of the other, one said sectionbeing arranged to receive direct endwise-acting im ulses'from thecarriage, a trip carried by sue rod-section and arranged to set inmotion the indexing mechanism, and the other section having connectionswith the shipping mechanism to actuate the same.

5. A ear-cutting'machine comprising a blank-ho ding shaft, a recirocating cuttercarriage having a cutter a a ted'to act on the blank, afeed-shaft engage with said outter-carriage, drivin mechanism for saidfeedshaft 'includin in e endent driving members and clutcmeciianism'coeperating alternately therewith,- shipping mechanismengaged with a movable part of said clutch mechanism, an indexingmechanism adapted tocommunicate motion to the blank-holding shaft, andmechanism operated .b the carriage in its retractive movement or settingin operation the indexing mechanism and subsequently operating saldshipping mechanism to reverse the motion of the feed shaft, saidmechanism consisting of a compound rod formed of two parts and a sleeveattached to one part telescopically surrounding the other part, one partbeing arranged for engagement b the carriage to engage and move the oter part, means carried by said part for tripping and setting inoperation the indexing mechanism, and the second part being connected tooperate the shippingmechanism.

6. A gear-cutting machine com rising cutting mechanism, a rotary blanholder, a

a ed to the blank-holder, a slow-speed rotary driving member meshingwith said index-wheel, and automatic means for o erating said drivingmember including a riven gear loosely mounted on the shaft of saidmember and a clutch positively connected to IOifittfi with and slideaxially on said member, an

clutc with said gear and disengaging the lf lpyporting-bearing therefor,an index-wheel rovisions for manually engaging said same therefrom,whereby the index-wheel Y may be moved automatically or manually.

7. A gear-cutting machine comprising cutting mechanism, a rotaryblank-holder, a supporting-bearing therefor, an index wormwheel affixedto the blank-holder, a worm engaged with said' index-wheel, a gear-wheeloosely mounted'on thev shaft of said worm, a clutch member formed on thegear, a complemental clutch member s lined on said shaft and movablelongitudina 1y thereon into and out of engagement with the gear clutchmember, a spring arrangedto move and hold the second clutch member outof contact with the'first clutch member, a nut threaded on theworm-shaft and operative to force the clutch members into engagementagainst-the force of said spring, and automatic driving mechanismincluding gearing meshing with said loose gear.

8. A machine of the character stated, comprising a rotary cutter-holderwhich includes tapered portion of the bearing.

external diameter 0 9.. A machine of the character stated, comprising arotary cutter-holder Which includes a shaft adapted to detachably engagea body to be rotated, said shaft having a tapered external portion, atubular driving-spindle carrying a driving member and having a taperedinternal ortion formed to fit, the tapered portion of the shaft, alongitudinally-tapered external portion, and a beveled shoulder, meansfor forcing the tapered portion of the shaft into the taperedportion ofthe spindle, a bearing having an internal-tapered portion and aninternally-beveled shoulder fitting the tapered portion and shoulderrespectively of the spindle, means for forcing the tapered portion andshoulder of the s indle against the complemental portions 0 the bearing,and means for shifting the bearing longitudinally to adjust the cutter.10. A gear-cutting machine comprising a cutter-carriage having a fixedhousing, a bearing movable endwise in said housing, a rotary holder'ournaled in the bearing, coo crating bevele 1 surfaces on the bearingan holder, means for adjusting the holder endwise in the bearing totake-up wear on saidbeveled sur faces, a cutter secured to said holder,means for adjusting-the bearing endwise .to adjust the cutter laterally,asleeve substantially equal in diameter to said holderadjusting meansand keyed to and movable endwise Withthe holder, and a drivin memberhaving a central bore as great iameter as, the

' contained in the said holder-adjusting means mounted npon andsurrounding said sleeve being connected to slide thereon "and rotatetherewith.

11. A gear-cutting machine comprising a cutter-carriage formed with afixed housing having a recess therein,. a tubular bearing seated in saidrecess and having a cylindrical portion provided with an externalscrewthread and having an internal-tapered shoulder, a tubular spindlerovided with an external-tapered shoul er mounted in said bearings, anut carried b said spindleand engaged with a threade extension'ofthebearing whereby the external-ta ered shoulder of the spindle may bebroug t into contact with the internal-tapered shoulder of the bearing,a cutter-arbor connected with the tubular spindle for rotation thereby,and an adjusting-nut. surroundin the cylindrical portion of the bearingan having ascrewthread in engagement with the external screwt'hreadthereon, said nut being confined in a ed engagement therewith located insaid slot and being accessible from the exterior ofthe housing, wherebythe nut may be turned to adjust the bearing, a cutter-holder rotatablycaring, and a cuttin -tcol secured to said holder, the holder an toolbeing arranged to move with the hearing when the latteri's adjusted.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature 111 presence of twowitnesses.

ERNEST J. FLATHER. Witnesses:

WILL AM J. FLATHER, HERBERT J. ALEXANDER.

